Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on X @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
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A new CDC report shows Florida mothers are increasingly starting prenatal care late or not at all, mirroring national trends, with rural access and Medicaid delays worsening outcomes. -
The Bulls play their first-ever match on Friday in New Orleans. Junior Sasha Pasloski calls the moment "surreal." For a season, home will be on Clearwater Beach until a new facility is completed on campus. -
That change takes place July 1, seven months after Aetna’s Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO also dropped Moffitt, the region's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. -
When open in 2029, the facility will offer cancer screenings, diagnostic imaging, blood draw and clinical labs, infusion services, medical oncology clinics, radiation therapy and clinical trials. -
The study, compiled for the Florida Hospital Association, examined 337 licensed facilities and found they directly employed 348,085 full-time workers and paid $34.5 billion in wages, salaries and benefits. -
The private university in Collier County had reported more cases in its current outbreak but said it will now rely on the state Department of Health dashboard for updates. -
On "Florida Matters Live & Local," representatives from food assistance programs explain the depth of the problem in the Tampa Bay region and where help is available. -
Tampa Bay, which went into the break on a 19-1-1 run, has nine players in Milan plus coach Jon Cooper, who leads Canada. Jake Guentzel is representing the Bolts on Team USA, which begins play Thursday. -
After Tampa Bay's split from FanDuel Sports, MLB will produce telecasts through Rays.TV as well as traditional cable and satellite outlets. Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson are back to call the games. -
Evan Longoria, who signed a one-day contract to retire with Tampa Bay last season, will be honored during "Longo Legacy Weekend." The team also announced fan promotional giveaways for 2026.
